Suspension implant

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, a surgical implant includes a body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end, a needle attachment member located at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment member configured to attach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implant into a patient&#39;s tissue, a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly for insertion of the surgical implant into the patient&#39;s tissue by the needle.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/010,640, entitled, “Suspension Implant”, filed Jan. 29, 2017, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/110,099,entitled “Suspension Implant”, filed Jan. 30, 2015, and to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/187,685, entitled “SuspensionImplant”, filed Jul. 1, 2015, the entire contents of each of which arehereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatuses forlifting, suspending and/or stiffening a patient's tissue, and morespecifically to suspension implants designed to lift, suspend andstiffen a patient's soft palate and/or uvula.

CROSS REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS

This application expressly incorporates by reference, and makes a parthereof, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/494,278, filed Sep. 23,2014, entitled “Surgical Procedure and Related Apparatus for TreatingSleep Apnea by Lifting, Suspending and Stiffening the Soft Palate”.

BACKGROUND

Approximately 20% of the adult population of the developed worldconsistently snores at night at volumes high enough to disturb sleepingpartners. This results in strained relationships and the possiblebreakdown of the family unit, as well as real physiologic harm to thesnorer. Of audible snorers, approximately one in five suffers fromobstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which tissues of thenasopharynx fall into positions that block the airway, restrictingbreathing during sleep to an extent that causes the patient repeatedcycles of breathing cessation (apnea) and subsequent gasping for airwithout regaining consciousness. The OSA patient is deprived of restfulsleep and suffers from poor tissue oxygenation, impaired memory,cognition, and daytime mental functioning, and in extreme cases runs therisk of sudden death from oxygen deprivation (asphyxiation) duringsleep.

Remedies for OSA start with prescribed weight loss, as approximately 25%of OSA patients can be cured by losing significant fat around the neck.The majority of OSA patients, however, are not obese. For them, the“gold standard” therapy is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)treatment. This non-surgical approach to treating OSA involves requiringthe patient to wear a head-mounted electric-powered breathing apparatusevery night, which mechanically forces air down the patient's windpipe,blowing open the floppy tissue that would otherwise be obstructing thenasopharynx with each breath cycle. The obvious disadvantage of CPAPtherapy is that it is unpleasant at best and psychologicallydebilitating at worst to a patient's nightlife, not to mentionuncomfortable to wear.

Less unpleasant, but similarly requiring patient compliance with nightlyrituals, is the use of mandible-displacing dental appliances. Thesedevices are similar to dental “night guards” commonly used to preventteeth grinding (nocturnal bruxism), such as “Silent Nite” or “PivotSolution.” They have the added feature of a configuration that pushesthe mandible forward (in the ventral direction in the sagittal plane) tocause the base of the tongue to move away from the back of the throat,thereby opening the airway. An implantable electronic Tongue NerveStimulator (the Inspire II Upper Airway Stimulation System) has alsobeen FDA cleared and is being used in severe OSA cases in which thetreating physician is confident that the patient's obstruction isspecifically due to the tongue and not the palate tissues. These devicessuffer from a significant limitation, however, because onlyapproximately 10% of non-obese snorers owe their condition totongue-base airway obstruction. In the vast majority of snoring and mildOSA cases, the soft palate and uvula are the cause of the obstruction.These tissues become longer and floppier with age, making OSAincreasingly common in advancing decades.

Two approaches have been commercialized to directly intervene andcorrect the soft palate's tendency to fall back and block the airway. In1990, Dr. Yves-Victor Kamami, a surgeon of the Marie-Louise Clinic inFrance published reports of his short-term success treating OSA with asurgical procedure he called Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP).This procedure enjoyed popularity in over the next ten years, until thelate 1990s when additional publications (Finkelstein, Schmidt andothers) showed that in many cases, laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty formoderate snorers without OSA (“nonapneic snorers”) could cause OSA tobegin, or worsen existing mild OSA, attributable to thermal damageinflicted by the laser. The laser appeared to cause scar tissue thatcrowded and thereby reduced the airspace in the pharynx (it inducedprogressive palatal fibrosis, accompanied by medial traction of theposterior tonsillar pillars leading to velopharyngeal insufficiency).Scar tissue also tends to make the airway more likely to collapse duringsleep, since it lacks the resiliency of healthy tissue. Hence, LAUPcould be a medically-induced (“iatrogenic”) cause of sleep apnea.

In 2003, Restore Medical launched the Pillar Palatal Implant System,consisting of a hollow-bore needle hand-held applicator that deployed astiff rod-shaped implant into a patient's soft palate. A physician woulddeploy an average of 2-3 Pillar rods as permanent implants to stiffenthe palate and thereby make it less likely to obstruct the airway. Themain challenges were that (1) the Pillar implants, no matter how manyare used, do not shorten the soft palate, and therefore cannot pull itaway from the sit of obstruction, and (2) the implants had a persistentrate of partial extrusion in the post-procedure period.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses that maybe employed to lift, suspend and/or stiffen a patient's tissue. In ageneral example embodiment, a surgical implant includes a body having adistal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment member located at thedistal end of the body, a plurality of first barbs located on the bodyproximal to the distal end, the plurality of first barbs pointed towardsthe proximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbs located onthe body between the plurality of first barbs and the proximal end, theplurality of second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes abody having a distal end, a proximal end and a functional length locatedproximal to the distal end, the functional length including a firstlength and a second length, a plurality of first barbs located withinthe first length proximal to the distal end, the plurality of firstbarbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body, and a plurality ofsecond barbs located within the second length between the plurality offirst barbs and the proximal end, the plurality of second barbs pointedtowards the distal end of the body, wherein the first length onlyincludes barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body and thesecond length only includes barbs pointed towards the distal end of thebody.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes abody having a distal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, and a plurality of barbs locatedon the length of the body proximal to the needle attachment member,wherein the length of the body proximal to the needle attachment memberonly includes barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body.

In another general example embodiment, a method of lifting andstiffening a patient's tissue includes attaching a needle attachmentmember of a suspension implant to a tip of a needle, the needleattachment member located at a distal end of the suspension implant,inserting at least the tip of the needle into the patient's tissue in afirst direction while the patient's tissue is in an initial position,removing the needle from the patient's tissue, pulling the suspensionimplant in a second direction so that a plurality of first barbs of thesuspension implant pointed towards a proximal end of the suspensionimplant pull the patient's tissue in the second direction, and releasingthe suspension implant so that a plurality of second barbs of thesuspension implant pointed towards the distal end of the suspensionimplant prevent the patient's tissue from returning to the initialposition.

In another general example embodiment, a kit for lifting and stiffeninga patient's tissue includes a container including a first implantincluding a first body having a first distal end and a first proximalend, a first needle attachment member located at the first distal end, afirst plurality of first barbs located on the first body proximal to thefirst distal end and pointed towards the first proximal end, and a firstplurality of second barbs located on the first body between the firstplurality of first barbs and the first proximal end and pointed towardsthe first distal end, and a second implant including a second bodyhaving a second distal end and a second proximal end, a second needleattachment member located at the second distal end, a second pluralityof first barbs located on the second body proximal to the second distalend and pointed towards the second proximal end, and a second pluralityof second barbs located on the second body between the second pluralityof first barbs and the second proximal end and pointed towards thesecond distal end, wherein the first implant and the second implantdiffer in at least one of: (i) the size of the first plurality of firstbarbs and the first plurality of second barbs; (ii) the size of thesecond plurality of first barbs and the second plurality of secondbarbs; (iii) the length along the first body of the first plurality offirst barbs and the length along the second body of the second pluralityof first barbs; (iv) the length along the first body of the firstplurality of second barbs and the length along the second body of thesecond plurality of second barbs; (v) the presence or absence of adistal anchor; (vi) the presence or absence of a proximal anchor; (vii)the presence or absence of a treble hook anchor; (viii) the curvature ofthe first plurality of first barbs and the first plurality of secondbarbs; and (ix) the curvature of the second plurality of first barbs andthe second plurality of second barbs.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes abody having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including aneedle attachment member configured to be inserted into a patient's softtissue in a first direction, means for pulling the patient's tissue in asecond direction with a plurality of first barbs pointed towards theproximal end, and means for preventing the patient's tissue fromreturning to an initial position using a plurality of second barbspointed towards the distal end.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes anelongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a needleattachment member located at the distal end of the body, a proximal looplocated at the proximal end of the body, a plurality of first barbslocated on the body proximal to the distal end, the plurality of firstbarbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body, and a plurality ofsecond barbs located on the body proximal to the proximal end, theplurality of second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes anelongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a needleattachment member located at the distal end of the body, a proximal looplocated at the proximal end of the body, and a plurality of barbslocated on the body between the distal loop and the proximal loop.

In another general example embodiment, a device for inserting a surgicalimplant into a patient's soft tissue includes a curved body including aninsertion tip configured to pierce the patient's soft tissue, the curvedbody having a convex side and an opposing concave side, an elongatedindentation located on the convex side of the curved body, and animplant receiving member located between the insertion tip and theelongated indentation on the convex side of the curved body.

In another general example embodiment, a system for lifting andstiffening a patient's tissue includes a surgical implant including anelongated body with a plurality of barbs and a distal end including aneedle attachment member, and a device for inserting the surgicalimplant into the patient's tissue, the device including a curved bodyhaving a sharp tip, a receiving member located proximal to the sharp tipand configured to receive the needle attachment member of the surgicalimplant, and an indentation configured to receive the plurality ofbarbs.

In another general example embodiment, a method of lifting andstiffening a patient's tissue includes attaching a needle attachmentmember of a suspension implant to a tip of a needle, the needleattachment member located at a distal end of the suspension implant,securing a proximal loop of the suspension implant, the proximal looplocated at a proximal end of the suspension implant, inserting at leastthe tip of the needle into the patient's tissue in a first directionwhile the patient's tissue is in an initial position, removing theneedle from the patient's tissue, pulling the suspension implant in asecond direction so that a plurality of first barbs of the suspensionimplant pointed towards the proximal end of the suspension implant pullthe patient's tissue in the second direction, and releasing the proximalloop of the suspension implant so that a plurality of second barbs ofthe suspension implant pointed towards the distal end of the suspensionimplant prevent the patient's tissue from returning to the initialposition.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes abody having a distal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, one or more first barbs locatedon the body proximal to the distal end, the one or more first barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body, and one or more secondbarbs located on the body between the one or more first barbs and theproximal end, the one or more second barbs pointed towards the distalend of the body.

In another general example embodiment, a surgical implant includes anelongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a needleattachment member located at the distal end of the body, a proximal looplocated at the proximal end of the body, one or more first barbs locatedon the body proximal to the distal end, the one or more first barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body, and one or more secondbarbs located on the body proximal to the proximal end, the one or moresecond barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be explained in furtherdetail by way of example only with reference to the accompanyingfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an example mouth of a snoring patient;

FIG. 2 shows a front view comparing an example mouth of a non-snoringpatient to the mouth of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an example mouth of a snoring patient;

FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 11 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 12 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 13 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 14 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 15 shows the Ikematsu System for the Diagnosis of Snoring;

FIG. 16 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure being attached to an example embodiment of aneedle according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 shows an example embodiment of a suspension implant according tothe present disclosure being attached to an example embodiment of aneedle according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 shows the needle embodiment of FIG. 16 being inserted into apatient's soft palate;

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of asuspension implant according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 shows a side view of the suspension implant of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 shows a top view of the suspension implant of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of the suspension implant of FIG. 19 inan open configuration;

FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of the suspension implant of FIG. 19 ina closed configuration;

FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of a needlethat can be used to implant a suspension implant according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 25 shows the suspension implant of FIG. 19 being attached to theneedle of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 shows the suspension implant of FIG. 19 being attached to theneedle of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of asuspension implant according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 28 shows a top view of the suspension implant of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 shows a cross-sectional view of the suspension implant of FIG.27 taken across lines XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 shows the suspension implant of FIG. 27 being attached to theneedle of FIG. 24;

FIG. 31 shows the suspension implant of FIG. 19 being attached to theneedle of FIG. 24;

FIG. 32 shows the needle of FIG. 24 as part of an example embodiment ofan implant device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

No snoring-correction technology yet exists that shortens and stiffensthe soft palate. There is therefore a pressing need for a device thatwill allow physicians to shorten and stiffen snoring and mild OSApatients' soft palates in a simple office-based procedure.

Before the disclosure is described, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the particular apparatuses and methodsdescribed. It is also to be understood that the terminology used hereinis for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to be limiting, since the scope of the present disclosure willbe limited only to the appended claims.

As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein maylack any element that is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus,“comprising,” as used herein, includes “consisting essentially of” and“consisting of.”

FIG. 1 illustrates an example mouth 1 of a typical snoring patient. FIG.2 compares the mouth 1 of the snoring patient in FIG. 1 to an examplemouth 11 of a non-snoring patient. The snoring patient's mouth 1 has ahigher tongue base 2, an enlarged uvula 4, a long, low, thick palate 6,a large tonsil 8 and a vertical pharyngeal fold 10. In comparison, thenon-snoring patient's mouth 11 has a lower tongue base 12, a smaller,higher uvula 14, a high, thin palate 16, a small tonsil 18 and novertical pharyngeal fold. These differences between the snorer's mouth 1and the non-snorer's mouth 11 can cause the snorer's upper airway tobecome obstructed.

The present disclosure seeks to correct at least the large uvula 4and/or the thick palate 6 of the snoring patient's mouth 1 by providinga suspension implant and a method of using a suspension implant asdescribed herein. As described in more detail below, the methodaccording to the present disclosure works by deploying two or threeresorbable barb-tipped suspension implants into the soft palate and/oruvula, each suspension implant having an end shaped like a miniatureharpoon and a needle attachment member, such as a distal loop, to bepushed into the tissue by a crochet-hook-like tool. The harpoon-likeimplants are inserted into the palate, then pulled back with proximalreverse-direction barbs to prevent slippage. This shortens and stiffensthe soft palate in a direct, elegant and effective way to stop the softpalate tissues and uvula from touching the back of the nasopharynx.Patients are left with an open airway that allows for uninterruptedsleep, without having to think about any recurring procedure, and freefrom worry about an implant extrusion.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a palatal suspension implant20 according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 20 includes an elongated body 22 having a proximalend 24 and a distal end 26, a pointed tip 28 and a needle attachmentmember 29 located at the distal end 26, a plurality of first barbs 32,and a plurality of second barbs 34. In the illustrated embodiment, theneedle attachment member 29 includes a distal loop 30. In use,suspension implant 20 can be inserted into a patient's soft-palate in afirst direction, leading with the distal end 26 of body 22. The proximalend 24 body 22 can then be pulled in a second direction, preferablyopposite the first direction, to shorten and stiffen the patient's softpalate. As proximal end 24 is pulled in the second direction, theplurality of first barbs 32, which are pointed towards the proximal end24 of suspension implant 20, grab hold of the patient's soft palate forthe lifting and raising.

In an embodiment, the functional length F of suspension implant 20 canbe approximately 2.0 to 3.5 centimeters, and the total length L ofsuspension implant 20 can be approximately 30 centimeters. Thefunctional length F of suspension implant 20 is the length of theportion of body 22 that is inserted into the patient's soft palateand/or uvula. For example, if the functional length F of suspensionimplant 20 is 2.0 centimeters, then the body 22 of suspension implant 20is inserted approximately 2.0 centimeters deep into the patient's softpalate and/or uvula. In another embodiment, the length L can be between1 and 30 centimeters, the thickness of the body can be between about 0.5millimeters and 3 millimeters.

In an embodiment, the suspension implant 20 is a flexible, dissolvablematerial such as a polyester material, for example, a biodegradablethermoplastic aliphatic polyester material such as polyglactic acid,polycaprolactone, polylactic Acid (PLA), or polyglycolic Acid (PGA).Preferably, the material dissolves in a time period sufficient to allowthe patient's soft palate and/or uvula to permanently suspend andstiffen, for example, three months. In alternative embodiments,suspension implant 20 can be made of a non-dissolvable material or amaterial that dissolves in more or less than three months. In anotherembodiment, suspension implant 20 can include a polycarbonatepolyurethane material around body 22 to increase strength.

In an embodiment, the disclosed method begins by applying a localanesthesia to a patient's soft palate. Preferably, two cubic centimetersof 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine is injected at threedifferent points 40 in the patient's soft palate 42, above the uvula 44and near the location where one or more suspension implants 20 will beinserted into the soft palate, as shown in FIG. 4. The injection shouldbe slow and intramuscular and can take effect within minutes.

Once the patient has been anesthetized, one or more suspension implants20 can be inserted into the patient's soft palate 42 by leading withdistal end 26. The suspension implants 20 can be inserted using a needle50, which can be a plain needle or the needle end of a suture insertiondevice, such as the suture insertion devices described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/494,278, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety. In an embodiment, the needle 50 includescrochet-hook-type insertion tip where the needle 50 pierces thepatient's soft palate 42. In an embodiment, two or three suspensionimplants 20 are inserted about 25 to 30 millimeters through thepatient's soft palate, to an area approximately 8 to 10 millimeters fromthe distal ridge of the soft palate. In an embodiment, one suspensionimplant 20 is inserted along the patient's midline and advanced straightback distally, and the other two suspension implants 20 are insertedapproximately 5 to 10 millimeters laterally on each side, and advancedback in a slight radiating pattern, so that the tips end upapproximately 10 to 15 millimeters lateral to the distal end of thefully-advanced middle suture implant. In another embodiment, twosuspension implants 20 are placed approximately 5 to 10 millimeterslateral to the patient's midline and advanced back distally, in a slightradiating pattern, so that the tips end up approximately 16 to 20millimeters apart from each other, each 8 to 10 millimeters lateral tothe midline of the uvula.

To insert a suspension implant 20 into the patient's soft palate 42, theneedle attachment member 29 of the suspension implant 20 is firstattached to the insertion tip 52 of the needle 50. The needle attachmentmember 29 is important in this respect because it allows the suspensionimplant 20 to be inserted into the patient's soft palate 42 without thesuspension implant 20 having to be folded over or through a tip of aneedle. In other words, needle attachment member 29 allows suspensionimplant 20 to be inserted straight into the patient's soft palate atdistal end 26 without any twisting or folding or knotting of suspensionimplant 20. That is, needle attachment member 29 allows the needle 50 todrive suspension implant 20 into the tissue.

In the illustrated embodiment, needle attachment member 29 includes adistal loop 30 that can be attached to a crochet-like needle tip 52 atan aperture 54 proximal to tip 52, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Asillustrated in FIG. 17, a curved needle 50 can advantageously be usedfor easier insertion into the patient's soft palate. It should beunderstood that the distal loop 30 can be open, as shown in the drawingswith an aperture all the way therethrough, or can be closed, for exampleby a cup-shaped loop that can grip a protuberance but does not have anaperture entirely therethough. Needle attachment member 29 can similarlyinclude a protuberance on the suspension implant 20 that can attach to aslot or corresponding protuberance on the needle. Although a distal loopis shown in the drawings herein, it should be understood that the distalloops disclosed herein can be replaced by other needle attachmentmembers 29 that allow the suspension implant 20 to be easily attached tothe needle and detached once the needle has been inserted into thepatient's tissue.

Once attached to the insertion tip 52 of needle 50, suspension implant20 can be inserted into the patient's soft palate 42 by inserting theneedle 50 in a first direction into the patient's soft palate 42 so thatthe insertion tip 52 of the needle 50 extends into the soft palate 42and optionally also into the base of the uvula 44. Needle 50 can beinserted into the soft palate 42 so that the tip of the needle 50extends to the base of the uvula 24. Preferably, needle 50 is inserteddeep enough into the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 so thatthe entire functional length F of suspension implant 20 is locatedwithin the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44. Sharp tip 28 ofsuspension implant 20 assists in the insertion of suspension implant 20into the patient's soft palate 42. FIG. 18 (not to scale) shows needle50, with suspension implant 20 attached, as needle 50 is being insertedinto the patient's soft palate 42.

Once the needle 50 and suspension implant 20 have been inserted into thepatient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44, the needle 50 can be removedfrom the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 in a directionopposite of the insertion direction. When the needle 50 is beingremoved, the insertion tip 52 of the needle 50 is released from theneedle attachment member 29 (distal loop 30) of the suspension implant20 so that the functional length of the suspension implant 20 remains inthe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 and only the needle 50 isremoved from the patient.

Once the needle 50 has been removed from the patient's tissue, theproximal end 24 of suspension implant 20 can be pulled in a seconddirection to shorten and stiffen the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44. In an embodiment, the second direction is substantiallyopposite to the first insertion direction of the needle 50 and thesuspension implant 20 into the patient's soft palate. In alternativeembodiments, the second direction can be angled with respect to thefirst insertion direction so as to pull the tissue in a differentdirection desired by a doctor. Since many patients have differentlyshaped palates and uvulas, the first and second directions can changefrom patient to patient.

The plurality of first barbs 32 of the suspension implant 20 are locatedproximal to the needle attachment member 29, here distal loop 30. As theproximal end 24 of the suspension implant 20 is pulled in the seconddirection, the pointed tips of each of the plurality of first barbs 32grab and pull the patient's tissue located near the distal end 26 ofbody 22, namely, the portion of the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44 that is obstructing the patient's breathing. The plurality offirst barbs 32 are pointed towards the proximal end 24 of suspensionimplant 20, so the pointed tips of the plurality of first barbs 32 arepositioned to dig into the patient's tissue and pull the patient'stissue in the second direction as the plurality of first barbs 32 movein the second direction. This pulling results in the uvula 42 beingraised, and the patient's tissue being compressed. In an embodiment,suspension implant 20 includes between 1 and 20 first barbs.

Once the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 has been raised by theplurality of first barbs 32, the body 22 of suspension implant 20 can becut between the proximal end 24 and the plurality of second barbs 34.Preferably, suspension implant 20 is cut while the suspension implant isin tension from being pulled in the second direction, and the cut shouldbe at the portion of body 22 that is close to the original insertionpoint of the needle 50 into the patient's soft palate 42. The purpose ofcutting suspension implant 20 is so that no portion of suspensionimplant 20 is hanging from the patient's mouth when the procedure isfinished.

After the body 22 of suspension implant 20 is cut, the functional lengthF of the suspension implant 20 still in the patient's soft palate willslightly pull back in the first direction due to the release of thetension in body 22 from being pulled in the second direction. Theplurality of second barbs 34, however, will prevent the patient's softpalate 42 and/or uvula 44 from falling back to its initial positionbecause the plurality of second barbs 34 are pointed towards the distalend 26 of suspension implant 20, so the tips of the plurality of secondbarbs 34 are positioned to dig into the patient's tissue and resist theinitial, first direction. With the plurality of first barbs 32 raisingthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 and resisting movement ofthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the second direction,and the plurality of second barbs 34 resisting movement of the patient'ssoft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the first direction, the patient'stissue is compressed and remains in a raised position. One advantage ofsuspension implant 20 is that there is no need to tie any knots insuspension implant 20 to lift and suspend the patient's tissue becausethe lifting and suspending is performed entirely by the positioning ofthe plurality of first barbs 32 and the plurality of second barbs 34.

In the illustrated embodiment, suspension implant 20 includes more firstbarbs 32 than second barbs 34, and the length along body 22 of theplurality of first barbs 32 is longer than the length along body 22 ofthe plurality of second barbs 34. This configuration is easier to insertinto the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 34 because the pointeddirection of the first barbs 32 allows the longer length of theplurality of first barbs 32 along body 22 to easily slide into thepatient's soft palate, whereas the shorter length of the plurality ofsecond barbs 34 along body 22 will resist the insertion direction due tothe second barbs being pointed towards distal end 26 and against theinsertion direction. Thus, in an embodiment, the functional length F ofbody 22 will include a first length located near the distal end andhaving only a plurality of first barbs 32 that point towards theproximal end 24, and a second length located at the proximal portion offunctional length F and having only a plurality of second barbs 34 thatpoint towards the distal end 26.

FIGS. 5 to 14 show alternative example embodiments of suspensionimplants according to the present disclosure. It should be understoodthat any of the features of suspension implant 20 can be used on any ofthe suspension implant embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 14, andvice versa.

FIG. 5 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 60according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 60 includes an elongated body 62 having a proximalend 64 and a distal end 66, a pointed tip 68 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 70 located at the distal end 64, a distalanchor 71 having a plurality of first barbs 72, and a plurality ofsecond barbs 74. As illustrated, the plurality of first barbs 72 ondistal anchor 71 are larger than the plurality of second barbs 72. Thatis, the first barbs 72 form a large anchor 71 at the distal end 66 ofthe suspension implant 60 to provide a larger lifting force and suspendthe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 as the suspension implant60 is pulled in the second direction after insertion. The smaller secondbarbs 74 can dig into the patient's tissue and resist movement thepatient's tissue in the first insertion direction, thereby working inconjunction with the first barbs 72 to compress the patient's tissue andhold the patient's tissue in a raised position.

FIG. 6 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 80according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 80 includes an elongated body 82 having a proximalend 84 and a distal end 86, a pointed tip 88 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 90 located at the distal end 86, two distalanchors 91 having a plurality of first barbs 92, and a plurality ofsecond barbs 94. Suspension implant 80 is similar to suspension implant60 but the plurality of first barbs 92 are located at two distal anchors91 near the distal end 86, as compared to one distal anchor forsuspension implant 60. The extra anchor 91 provides added pull at thedistal end 86 of suspension implant 80, which can be used to accommodatepatients with relatively muscular tissue in the soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44.

FIG. 7 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 100according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 100 includes an elongated body 102 having a proximalend 104 and a distal end 106, a pointed tip 108 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 110 located at the distal end 106, aplurality of first barbs 112, and a proximal anchor 113 having aplurality of second barbs 114. As illustrated, the plurality of secondbarbs 114 on proximal anchor 113 are larger than the plurality of firstbarbs 112. That is, the second barbs 114 form a large anchor near theproximal side of the functional length F of suspension implant 100 toresist movement of the suspension implant 100 in the first insertiondirection, thereby working in conjunction with the first barbs 112 tocompress the patient's tissue and hold the patient's tissue in a raisedposition. Locating the larger proximal anchor 113 near the proximal sideof the functional length F of suspension implant 100 helps toaccommodate patients with relatively muscular tissue to prevent thetissue from dropping after the tension in suspension implant 100 isreleased during implantation, as described above.

FIG. 8 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 120according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 120 includes an elongated body 122 having a proximalend 124 and a distal end 126, a pointed tip 128 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 130 located at the distal end 126, aplurality of first barbs 132, and two proximal anchors 133 having aplurality of second barbs 134. Suspension implant 120 is similar tosuspension implant 100 but the plurality of second barbs 134 are locatedat two proximal anchors 133 near the proximal side of the functionallength F of suspension implant 120, as compared to one proximal anchorfor suspension implant 100. The extra anchor 133 provides addedresistance at the proximal side of the functional length F of thesuspension implant 120, which can be used to accommodate patients withrelatively muscular tissue in the soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44.

FIG. 9 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 140according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 140 includes an elongated body 142 having a proximalend 144 and a distal end 146, a pointed tip 148 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 150 located at the distal end 146, aharpoon-like treble hook anchor 151 having a plurality of first barbs152, and a plurality of second barbs 154. Suspension implant 140 issimilar to suspension implant 60 but the plurality of first barbs 152are located at a harpoon-like treble hook anchor 151 near the distal end146. Treble hook anchor 151 is relatively larger than distal anchor 71of suspension implant 60, has more first barbs 152, and the curvature ofthe barbs 152 is more towards the proximal end of suspension implant 140as opposed to being curved more radially outward as with suspensionimplant 60. Harpoon-like treble hook anchor 151 provides addedresistance at the distal end 146 of suspension implant 140, which can beused to accommodate patients with relatively muscular tissue in the softpalate 42 and/or uvula 44.

FIG. 10 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 160according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 160 includes an elongated body 162 having a proximalend 164 and a distal end 166, a pointed tip 168 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 170 located at the distal end 166, aplurality of first barbs 172, 174, and a plurality of second barbs 174.Suspension implant 160 is similar to suspension implant 60 but includestwo different sizes of first barbs 172, 174. First barbs 172 are locatedat distal anchor 171, are closer to distal end 166, and are relativelylarger than first barbs 174. First barbs 174 are relatively smaller andare located between distal anchor 171 and the plurality of second barbs176 to provide extra lift in the second direction after insertion.

FIG. 11 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 180according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 180 includes an elongated body 182 having a proximalend 184 and a distal end 186, a pointed tip 188 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 190 located at the distal end 186, aplurality of first barbs 192, 194, and a plurality of second barbs 194.Suspension implant 180 is similar to suspension implant 160 but theplurality of first barbs 192 are located at two distal anchors 191 nearthe distal end 186, as compared to one distal anchor for suspensionimplant 160. The extra distal anchor 191 provides added resistance atthe distal end 186 of suspension implant 180, which can be used toaccommodate patients with relatively muscular tissue in the soft palate42 and/or uvula 44.

FIG. 12 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 200according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 200 includes an elongated body 202 having a proximalend 204 and a distal end 206, a pointed tip 208 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 210 located at the distal end 206, aplurality of first barbs 212, and a plurality of second barbs 214, 218.Suspension implant 200 is similar to suspension implant 100 but includestwo different sizes of second barbs 214, 218. Second barbs 218 arelocated at proximal anchor 216, are closer to proximal end 204, and arerelatively larger than second barbs 214. Second barbs 214 are relativelysmaller and are located between proximal anchor 216 and the plurality offirst barbs 212 to provide extra resistance in the first insertiondirection.

FIG. 13 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 220according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 220 includes an elongated body 222 having a proximalend 224 and a distal end 226, a pointed tip 228 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 230 located at the distal end 226, aplurality of first barbs 232, and a plurality of second barbs 234, 238.Suspension implant 220 is similar to suspension implant 200 but theplurality of second barbs 238 are located at two distal anchors 236 nearthe proximal side of the functional length F of the suspension implant220, as compared to one distal anchor for suspension implant 200. Theextra anchor 236 provides added resistance at the functional length F ofthe suspension implant 220, which can be used to accommodate patientswith relatively muscular tissue in the soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44.

FIG. 14 is an alternative example embodiment of a suspension implant 240according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment,suspension implant 240 includes an elongated body 242 having a proximalend 244 and a distal end 246, a pointed tip 248 and a needle attachmentmember such as a distal loop 250 located at the distal end 246, aplurality of first barbs 254, 256, and a plurality of second barbs 258.Suspension implant 240 is similar to suspension implant 140 but includestwo different sizes of first barbs 254, 256. First barbs 254 are locatedat a harpoon-like treble hook anchor 252, are closer to distal end 246,and are relatively larger than first barbs 256. First barbs 256 arerelatively smaller and are located between treble hook anchor 252 andthe plurality of second barbs 258 to provide extra resistance to thesecond direction after insertion, for example for a patient with alonger uvula 44. The curvature of first barbs 254 is also more towardsthe proximal end 244 of suspension implant 240 as opposed to first barbs256.

Suspension implants 20, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 and240 can advantageously be used on different patients with differentanatomies. FIG. 15 illustrates the Ikematsu System for the Diagnosis ofSnoring. Certain of suspension implants 20, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160,180, 200, 220 and 240 are better suited for different types of anatomiesas shown in FIG. 15. For example, suspension implant 180 is bettersuited for a patient with an elongated uvula because the extra barbshelp hold the increased length of the uvula and the correspondingweight.

Because different suspension implants are better suited for thedifferent anatomies of different patients, it can be advantageous toprovide a doctor with an implant kit including two or more of suspensionimplants 20, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 200 and 240. Thedoctor can then evaluate the patient's uvula and determine whichsuspension implant is the best fit for the patient.

FIGS. 19 to 21 show an alternative example embodiment of a suspensionimplant 300 according to the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, suspension implant 300 includes an elongated body 302 havinga proximal end 304 and a distal end 306, a pointed tip 308 and a needleattachment member such as a distal loop 310 located at the distal end306, and a pointed tip 312 and a proximal loop 314 located at theproximal end 304. A plurality of first barbs 320 are located adjacent todistal end 306 and are pointed towards proximal end 304. A plurality ofsecond barbs 322 are located adjacent to proximal end 304 and arepointed towards distal end 306. The plurality of first barbs 320 and theplurality of second barbs 322 are separated by a barbless, smoothportion 324 of the body 302.

In use, suspension implant 300 can be inserted into a patient'ssoft-palate in a first direction, leading with the distal end 306 ofbody 302. The proximal end 304 body 300 can then be pulled in a seconddirection, preferably opposite the first direction, to shorten andstiffen the patient's soft palate. In alternative embodiments, thesecond direction can be angled with respect to the first insertiondirection so as to pull the tissue in a different direction desired by adoctor. Since many patients have differently shaped palates and uvulas,the first and second directions can change from patient to patient.

As proximal end 304 is pulled in the second direction, the plurality offirst barbs 320, which are pointed towards the proximal end 304 ofsuspension implant 300, grab hold of the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44 to lift and stiffen the muscular tissue in the patient's softpalate 42 and/or uvula 44. The plurality of second barbs 322, which arepointed towards the distal end 306 of suspension implant 300, then holdthe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 in the lifted and stiffenedposition when the suspension implant 300 is released from the seconddirection.

The plurality of first barbs 320 include alternating top barbs 326 andbottom barbs 328. As illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21, the top barbs 326extend from opposing side surfaces 334, 336 of body 302 and share thetop surface 330 of body 302. The bottom barbs 328 also extend fromopposing side surfaces 334, 336 of body 302, but share the bottomsurface 332 of body 302. A bottom face 327 of top barbs 326 is angledaway from bottom surface 332 towards top surface 330, and a top face 329of bottom barbs 328 is angled away from top surface 330 towards bottomsurface 332. It has been determined that top barbs 326 and bottom barbs328 are well-suited to provide three-dimensional gripping of thepatient's tissue, even with only two rows of barbs protruding from onlytwo side surfaces 334, 336 of body 302, and are easier to mold than asimilar implant with barbs extending from each of top surface 330,bottom surface 332, and side surfaces 334, 336.

The plurality of second barbs 322 are located at a recessed surface 340that is recessed from top surface 330. Recessed surface 340 is designedso that the plurality of second barbs 322 can fold towards each otherduring insertion of suspension implant 300 into a patient's tissue. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the width of body 302 increases, and theheight of body 302 decreases, at the portion of body 302 that includesthe plurality of second barbs 302. The purpose of this configuration isso that the body can flex inwardly when being inserted into thepatient's soft tissue, as explained in more detail below. When the bodyflexes inwardly, the plurality of second barbs 302 can be prevented fromresisting the first direction as suspension implant 300 is inserted intothe patient's tissue. Then, once suspension implant has been inserted,the plurality of second barbs 302 can be released to grab hold of thepatient's tissue. In an embodiment, the plurality of second barbs 322are flexible to allow for the upward/inward flexing.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show how the plurality of second barbs 322 can foldtowards each other for insertion into the patient. In FIG. 22, theplurality of second barbs 322 are shown in an open configuration, inwhich recessed surface 340 is exposed. In FIG. 23, the plurality ofsecond barbs 322 are shown in a closed configuration, in which theplurality of second barbs 322 on opposing sides have been folded intoeach other so that the barbs on opposite sides are touching or almosttouching. As explained in more detail below, suspension implant 300 canbe inserted into the patient with the plurality of second barbs 322 inthe closed configuration, and then the plurality of second barbs 322 canbe opened once suspension implant 300 has been inserted to grip thepatient's tissue.

Proximal loop 314 enables suspension implant 300 to have a smallerdesign than suspension implants 20, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180,200, 200 and 240. In an embodiment, the length of suspension implant 300is about 2.0 to 3.4 cm long, for example 3.4 cm long, compared forexample to the length of 30 cm suggested above for suspension implant20. Proximal loop 314 enables the shorter length of body 302 because aninexpensive thread can be looped through proximal loop 314 duringinsertion into the patient's tissue. The inexpensive thread can be, forexample, an off-the-shelf, non-barbed, throwaway suture 450. Thethrowaway suture 450 can then be cut and discarded after insertion sothat only suspension implant 300 remains in the patient's tissue.Proximal loop 314 therefore also prevents suspension implant 300 fromneeding to be cut during the insertion process.

In an embodiment, the suspension implant 300 is a flexible, dissolvablematerial such as a polyester material, for example, a biodegradablethermoplastic aliphatic polyester material such as polyglactic acid,polycaprolactone, polylactic Acid (PLA), or polyglycolic Acid (PGA).Preferably, the material dissolves in a time period sufficient to allowthe patient's soft palate and/or uvula to permanently suspend andstiffen, for example, three months. In alternative embodiments,suspension implant 300 can be made of a non-dissolvable material or amaterial that dissolves in more or less than three months. In anotherembodiment, suspension implant 300 can include a polycarbonatepolyurethane material around body 302 to increase strength.

FIG. 24 is an embodiment of a needle 400 that can be used to insertsuspension implant 300, or another suspension implant according to thepresent disclosure, into a patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44. Inthe illustrated embodiment, needle 400 includes a insertion tip 402, anaperture 404 to receive distal loop 310, and an indentation 406 that isconfigured to align with the plurality of second barbs 322 of suspensionimplant 300. The body of needle 400 is advantageously curved for easierinsertion into the patient's soft palate, as shown for example in FIG.18. In an embodiment, the indentation 406 is positioned at the apex ofthe convex side 408 of the curved portion 414 of needle 400, or in otherwords at the portion of needle 400 with the smallest radius ofcurvature. Preferably, indentation 406 is elongated so that it canaccept the entirety of the portion of body 302 that includes theplurality of second barbs 322. In an embodiment, the length ofindentation 406 along needle 400 is greater than or equal to the lengthof the plurality of second barbs 322 along body 302 of a correspondingsuspension implant 300.

Although the needle attachment member is shown as an open distal loop310 in FIGS. 19 to 23, it should be understood that the needleattachment member can be an open distal loop with an aperture all theway through, or a closed distal loop similar to a cup-shape loop thatcan grip a protuberance but does not have an aperture entirelytherethough. The needle attachment member can also be a protuberance onthe suspension implant 300 that can attach to a slot or correspondingprotuberance on the needle.

In the illustrated embodiment, the convex side 408 of the curved portionof needle 400 is the top side shown in FIG. 24, and the concave side 412of the curved portion of needle 400 is the bottom side shown in FIG. 24.While it is understood that the entire needle could be considered convexbecause the needle includes a round cross-section, the “convex side” and“concave side” of the needle as referred to herein refer to the oppositetop and bottom elongated surfaces along the length of the needle atcurved portion 414.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show the attachment of suspension implant 300 to needle400 so that suspension implant 300 can be inserted into a patient's softtissue. As illustrated in FIG. 25, distal loop 310 is attached to needle400 at aperture 404 by looping distal loop 310 over an inner corner 410of aperture 404. A throwaway, barbless suture 450 is looped throughproximal loop 314. The throwaway suture can then be pulled away frominsertion tip 402, as illustrated in FIG. 26, so that suspension implant300 is stretched along the convex side 408 of the body of needle 400 andso that the plurality of second barbs 322 of suspension implant 300 arealigned with and placed into indentation 406 of needle 400.

The placement of the plurality of second barbs 322 within indentation406 causes the plurality of second barbs 322 to fold towards each otherso that the plurality of second barbs 322 do not resist the insertiondirection when needle 400 is inserted into the patient's soft palate 42.Even in an embodiment where the plurality of second barbs 322 are notflexible, the side walls of indentation 406 can prevent the plurality ofsecond barbs 322 from resisting the insertion direction when needle 400is inserted into the patient's soft palate 42.

A separate insertion device can also be used fold the plurality ofsecond barbs 322 and place the plurality of second barbs 322 withinindentation 406 of needle 400. In an embodiment, an insertion device canclip onto suspension implant 300 to compress the plurality of secondbarbs 322 and guide the plurality of second barbs 322 into indentation406. In another embodiment, an insertion device can clip onto needle 400and create a funnel shape that guides the plurality of second barbs 322into indentation 406. In another embodiment, an installation base canlay in a sterile field into which suspension implant 300 is placed. Theuser can then capture the distal loop 310 of suspension implant 300 withaperture 404 and can use the proximal loop 312 to pull the plurality ofsecond barbs 322 into indentation 406 of needle 400.

Once suspension implant 300 has been attached to needle 400, suspensionimplant 300 can be inserted into the patient's soft palate 42 byinserting the insertion tip 402 of needle 400 in a first direction intothe patient's soft palate 42 so that the insertion tip 402 of the needle400 extends into the soft palate 42 and optionally also into the base ofthe uvula 44. Preferably, needle 400 is inserted deep enough into thepatient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 so that the entire length ofsuspension implant 300 is located within the patient's soft palate 42and/or uvula 44. Sharp tip 308 of suspension implant 300 assists in theinsertion of suspension implant 20 into the patient's soft palate 42.Indentation 406 prevents the plurality of second barbs 322 fromresisting the insertion direction.

Once the needle 400 and suspension implant 300 have been inserted intothe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44, the needle 400 can beremoved from the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 in a directiondifferent from the insertion direction. When the needle 400 is beingremoved from the patient's soft palate 42 in the different direction,the distal loop 310 of suspension implant 300 is released from aperture404 of needle 400 so that the entire or partial length of the suspensionimplant 300 remains in the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 andonly the needle 400 is removed from the tissue. The throwaway suture 450may also be located partially within the patient's tissue at this stage.

The throwaway suture 450 can then be pulled in a second direction toshorten and stiffen the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44. In anembodiment, the second direction is substantially opposite to the firstinsertion direction of the needle 400 and the suspension implant 300into the patient's soft palate 42. In alternative embodiments, thesecond direction can be angled with respect to the first insertiondirection so as to pull the tissue in a different direction desired by adoctor.

As illustrated, the plurality of first barbs 320 of the suspensionimplant 300 are located proximal to the distal loop 310. As thethrowaway suture 450 of the suspension implant 300 is pulled in thesecond direction, the pointed tips 325 of each of the plurality of firstbarbs 320 grab and pull the patient's tissue located near the distal end306 of body 302, namely, the portion of the patient's soft palate 42and/or uvula 44 that is obstructing the patient's breathing. Theplurality of first barbs 320 are pointed towards the proximal end 304 ofsuspension implant 300, so the pointed tips 325 of the plurality offirst barbs 320 are positioned to dig into the patient's tissue and pullthe patient's tissue in the second direction as the plurality of firstbarbs 320 move in the second direction. This pulling results in theuvula 42 being raised, and the patient's tissue being compressed.

Once the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 has been raised by theplurality of first barbs 320, the throwaway suture 450 can be cut orreleased from proximal loop 314 so that only suspension implant 300remains in the patient's tissue. Suspension implant 300 will thenslightly pull back in the first direction due to the release of thetension from being pulled in the second direction. The plurality ofsecond barbs 322, which are no longer shielded from the patient's tissueby indentation 406, will prevent the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44 from falling back to its initial position because the pluralityof second barbs 322 are pointed towards the distal end 306 of suspensionimplant 300, so the pointed tips 323 of the plurality of second barbs322 are positioned to dig into the patient's tissue and resist theinitial, first direction. With the plurality of first barbs 320 raisingthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 and resisting movement ofthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the second direction,and the plurality of second barbs 322 resisting movement of thepatient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the first direction, thepatient's tissue is compressed and remains in a raised position.

In an alternative embodiment, suspension implant 300 can be attached toneedle 400 without the need for a throwaway suture 450. For example,needle 400, or a device that includes needle 400, can include aprotrusion that is configured to fit through proximal loop 314 and pullproximal loop 314 away from insertion tip 402 so that suspension implant300 is stretched along the convex side 408 of the body of needle 400 andso that the plurality of second barbs 322 of suspension implant 300 arealigned with and placed into indentation 406 of needle 400. Theprotrusion can then release suspension implant 300 after needle 400 hasbeen implanted in the patient's tissue.

FIGS. 27 to 29 show an alternative example embodiment of a suspensionimplant 350 according to the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, suspension implant 350 includes an elongated body 352 havinga proximal end 354 and a distal end 356, a pointed tip 358 and a needleattachment member such as a distal loop 360 located at the distal end356, and a pointed tip 362 and a proximal loop 364 located at theproximal end 354. A plurality of first barbs 370 are located adjacent todistal end 356 and are pointed towards proximal end 354. A plurality ofsecond barbs 372 are located adjacent to proximal end 354 and arepointed towards distal end 356. The plurality of first barbs 370 and theplurality of second barbs 372 are separated by a barbless, smoothportion 374 of body 352.

In use, suspension implant 350 can be inserted into a patient'ssoft-palate in a first direction, leading with the distal end 356 ofbody 352. The proximal end 354 body 350 can then be pulled in a seconddirection, preferably opposite the first direction, to shorten andstiffen the patient's soft palate. In alternative embodiments, thesecond direction can be angled with respect to the first insertiondirection so as to pull the tissue in a different direction desired by adoctor. Since many patients have differently shaped palates and uvulas,the first and second directions can change from patient to patient.

As proximal end 354 is pulled in the second direction, the plurality offirst barbs 370, which are pointed towards the proximal end 354 ofsuspension implant 350, grab hold of the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44 to lift and stiffen the muscular tissue in the patient's softpalate 42 and/or uvula 44. The plurality of second barbs 372, which arepointed towards the distal end 356 of suspension implant 350, then holdthe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 in the lifted and stiffenedposition when the suspension implant 350 is released from the seconddirection.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of first barbs 370 protrudefrom both a first side surface 380 and an opposing second side surface382 of body 352, and share the top surface 384 and/or bottom surface 386of body 352. The plurality of second barbs 372 only protrude from firstside surface 380. As explained in more detail below with reference toFIGS. 30 and 31, the purpose of this configuration with the plurality ofsecond barbs 370 on only one side is so that the plurality of secondbarbs can be shielded from the patient's tissue as suspension implant350 is inserted into the patient's tissue, because the plurality ofsecond barbs 372 are pointed opposite of the insertion direction towardsthe distal end 356 of body 352. In alternative embodiments, theplurality of second barbs 372 can be on second side surface 382, topsurface 384 or bottom surface 386.

In the illustrated embodiment, distal loop 360 has a stirrup shape, ascompared to the round or oval shape of distal loop 310 of suspensionimplant 300. That is, the furthest distal portion of distal loop 360 hasa flat surface where suspension implant 350 would first enter apatient's tissue. The stirrup shape is advantageous in that it improvesthe mechanical performance of the disengageable union between theleading end of suspension implant 350 and needle 400 when suspensionimplant 350 is attached to needle 400. As discussed in more detailbelow, suspension implant 350 must be pushed or driven into thepatient's tissue by needle 400, and the flat surface of the stirrupshape of distal loop 360 complements a flat shape of the inside ofindentation 404 of needle 400 and prevents suspension implant 350 fromslipping backward during deployment. Although needle 400 can be also beformed with a round or oval shape inside of indentation 404 tocompliment the round or oval shape of distal loop 310 of suspensionimplant 300, it has been determined that the flat surface of the stirrupshape of distal loop 360 engaged to a flat shape of the inside ofindentation 404 is more effective at preventing slippage duringinsertion into the patient's tissue.

Like with suspension implant 300, proximal loop 364 enables suspensionimplant 350 to have a smaller design than suspension implants 20, 60,80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 200 and 240. In an embodiment, thelength of suspension implant 350 is about 2.0 to 3.4 cm long, forexample 2.6 cm long, compared for example to the length of 30 cmsuggested above for suspension implant 20. Proximal loop 364 enables theshorter length of body 352 because an inexpensive thread can be loopedthrough proximal loop 364 during insertion into the patient's tissue.The inexpensive thread can be, for example, an off-the-shelf,non-barbed, throwaway suture 450. The throwaway suture 450 can then becut and discarded after insertion so that only suspension implant 300remains in the patient's tissue. Proximal loop 364 therefore alsoprevents suspension implant 350 from needing to be cut during theinsertion process.

In an embodiment, the length of suspension implant 350 is about 2.6 cmlong, the length of smooth portion 374 is about 1 cm long, and thicknessof suspension implant 350 is about 0.05 cm. The plurality of first barbs370 can extend about 0.18 cm from first side surface 380 and opposingsecond side surface 382 of body 352, and the plurality of second barbs372 can extend about 0.18 cm from first side surface 380. The distancebetween each barb 370, 372 on first side surface 380 and/or second sidesurface 382 can be about 0.15 cm. A first surface 386 of each of thebarbs 370, 372 can be angled at about 40 degrees (angle A1) from firstside surface 380 and/or second side surface 382, and a second surface388 of each of the barbs 370, 372 can be angled at about 55 degrees(angle A2) from first side surface 380 and/or second side surface 382.

In an embodiment, the suspension implant 350 is a flexible, dissolvablematerial such as a polyester material, for example, a biodegradablethermoplastic aliphatic polyester material such as polyglactic acid,polycaprolactone, polylactic Acid (PLA), or polyglycolic Acid (PGA).Preferably, the material dissolves in a time period sufficient to allowthe patient's soft palate and/or uvula to permanently suspend andstiffen, for example, three months. In alternative embodiments,suspension implant 350 can be made of a non-dissolvable material or amaterial that dissolves in more or less than three months. In anotherembodiment, suspension implant 350 can include a polycarbonatepolyurethane material around body 352 to increase strength.

FIGS. 30 and 31 show the attachment of suspension implant 350 to needle400 so that suspension implant 350 can be inserted into a patient's softtissue. As illustrated in FIG. 30, distal loop 360 is attached to needle400 at aperture 404 by looping distal loop 360 over the inner corner 410of aperture 404, which is shown to be on the concave side 412 of thecurved portion of needle 400 in FIGS. 30 and 31. A throwaway, barblesssuture 450 is looped through proximal loop 364. The throwaway suture canthen be pulled away from insertion tip 402 so that suspension implant350 is stretched along the convex side 408 of the body of needle 400 andso that the plurality of second barbs 372 of suspension implant 300 arealigned with and placed into indentation 406 of needle 400. Asillustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31, suspension implant 350 is twisted whilebeing pulled away from insertion tip 402 so that the plurality of secondbarbs 372 are placed downward into indentation 406 so that the pluralityof second barbs 372 do not resist the insertion direction when needle400 is inserted into the patient's soft palate 42.

Once suspension implant 350 has been attached to needle 400, suspensionimplant 350 can be inserted into the patient's soft palate 42 byinserting the insertion tip 402 of needle 400 in a first direction intothe patient's soft palate 42 so that the insertion tip 402 of the needle400 extends into the soft palate 42 and optionally also into the base ofthe uvula 44. Preferably, needle 400 is inserted deep enough into thepatient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 so that the entire length ofsuspension implant 350 is located within the patient's soft palate 42and/or uvula 44. Sharp tip 358 of suspension implant 350 assists in theinsertion of suspension implant 350 into the patient's soft palate 42.Indentation 406 prevents the plurality of second barbs 372 fromresisting the insertion direction.

Once the needle 400 and suspension implant 350 have been inserted intothe patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44, the needle 400 can beremoved from the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 in a directiondifferent from the insertion direction. When the needle 400 is beingremoved from the patient's soft palate 42 in the different direction,the distal loop 360 of suspension implant 350 is released from aperture404 of needle 400 so that the entire or partial length of the suspensionimplant 350 remains in the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 andonly the needle 400 is removed from the tissue. The throwaway suture 450may also be located partially within the patient's tissue at this stage.

The throwaway suture 450 can then be pulled in a second direction toshorten and stiffen the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44. In anembodiment, the second direction is substantially opposite to the firstinsertion direction of the needle 400 and the suspension implant 350into the patient's soft palate 42. In alternative embodiments, thesecond direction can be angled with respect to the first insertiondirection so as to pull the tissue in a different direction desired by adoctor.

As illustrated, the plurality of first barbs 370 of the suspensionimplant 350 are located proximal to the distal loop 360. As thethrowaway suture 450 is pulled in the second direction, the pointed tips375 of each of the plurality of first barbs 370 grab and pull thepatient's tissue located near the distal end 356 of body 352, namely,the portion of the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 that isobstructing the patient's breathing. The plurality of first barbs 370are pointed towards the proximal end 354 of suspension implant 350, sothe pointed tips 375 of the plurality of first barbs 370 are positionedto dig into the patient's tissue and pull the patient's tissue in thesecond direction as the plurality of first barbs 370 move in the seconddirection. This pulling results in the uvula 42 being raised, and thepatient's tissue being compressed.

Once the patient's soft palate 42 and/or uvula 44 has been raised by theplurality of first barbs 370, the throwaway suture 450 can be cut orreleased from proximal loop 364 so that only suspension implant 350remains in the patient's tissue. Suspension implant 350 will thenslightly pull back in the first direction due to the release of thetension from being pulled in the second direction. The plurality ofsecond barbs 372, which are no longer shielded from the patient's tissueby indentation 406, will prevent the patient's soft palate 42 and/oruvula 44 from falling back to its initial position because the pluralityof second barbs 372 are pointed towards the distal end 356 of suspensionimplant 350, so the pointed tips 373 of the plurality of second barbs372 are positioned to dig into the patient's tissue and resist theinitial, first direction. With the plurality of first barbs 370 raisingthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 and resisting movement ofthe patient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the second direction,and the plurality of second barbs 372 resisting movement of thepatient's soft tissue 42 and/or uvula 44 in the first direction, thepatient's tissue is compressed and remains in a raised position.

In an alternative embodiment, suspension implant 350 can be attached toneedle 400 without the need for a throwaway suture 450. For example,needle 400, or a device that includes needle 400, can include aprotrusion that is configured to fit through proximal loop 364 and pullproximal loop 364 away from insertion tip 402 so that suspension implant350 is stretched along the convex side 408 of the body of needle 400 andso that the plurality of second barbs 372 of suspension implant 350 arealigned with and placed into indentation 406 of needle 400. Theprotrusion can then release suspension implant 350 after needle 400 hasbeen implanted in the patient's tissue.

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of a device 460 that can include needle 400and can be loaded with throwaway suture 450. In an embodiment, device460 can be configured with a pulling mechanism to pull throwaway suture450 away from insertion tip 402 to load the plurality of second barbs322, 374 within indentation 406. Device 460 can also be configured witha cutting mechanism to cut throwaway suture 450 once suspension implant300, 350 has been inserted into the patient's soft tissue. Device 460can also be configured with a loop attachment mechanism to grab and holdproximal loop 314, 364 of suspension implant 300, 350 without the needfor a throwaway suture 450.

It should be understood that any of the features of the suspensionimplants 20, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 200, 240, 300 and 350disclosed herein can be used on any of the other suspension implants 20,60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 200, 240, 300 and 350 disclosedherein.

Modifications in addition to those described above may be made to thestructures and techniques described herein without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, although specificembodiments have been described, these are examples only and are notlimiting on the scope of the disclosure.

ADDITIONAL ASPECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the subject matter described herein may be useful alone or incombination with any one or more of the other aspect described herein.Without limiting the foregoing description, in a first aspect of thepresent disclosure, a surgical implant includes a body having a distalend and a proximal end, a needle attachment member located at the distalend of the body, a plurality of first barbs located on the body proximalto the distal end, the plurality of first barbs pointed towards theproximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbs located on thebody between the plurality of first barbs and the proximal end, theplurality of second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the needle attachment member includes a distal loop.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the distal loop includes an aperture therethrough.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the needle attachment member includes a protuberance.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the needle attachment member is located at a tip of thedistal end.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the surgical implant includes a pointed tip located atthe distal end of the body.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the body is formed of a biodegradable thermoplasticaliphatic polyester.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the body is formed of polyglactic acid, polycaprolactoneor any copolymer including polycaprolactone, polylactic Acid (PLA), orpolyglycolic Acid (PGA).

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the body includes a functional length that is configuredto be inserted into the patient's tissue, and the plurality of firstbarbs and the plurality of second barbs are located within thefunctional length.

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the plurality of first barbs are located at a distalportion of the functional length of the body and the plurality of secondbarbs are located at a proximal portion of the functional length of thebody.

In accordance with an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the functional length includes a first lengthwith only the plurality of first barbs, and a second length with onlythe plurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, which maybe used in combination with any other aspect or combination of aspectslisted herein, the first length is located near the distal end of thebody, and the second length is located at a proximal portion offunctional length.

In accordance with a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the length along the body of the plurality offirst barbs is longer than the length along the body of the plurality ofsecond barbs.

In accordance with a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the length along the body of the plurality offirst barbs is shorter than the length along the body of the pluralityof second barbs.

In accordance with a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first barbs are larger than the second barbs.

In accordance with a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the second barbs are larger than the first barbs.

In accordance with a seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the plurality of first barbsincludes barbs of different sizes; and (ii) the plurality of secondbarbs includes barbs of different sizes.

In accordance with a eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes at least one of adistal anchor, a proximal anchor and a treble hook anchor.

In accordance with a nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the curvature of the plurality of first barbs isdifferent than the curvature of the plurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant lifts and stiffens apatient's tissue.

In accordance with a twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to be inserted into apatient's tissue.

In accordance with a twenty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to reduce the length ofa patient's soft palate.

In accordance with a twenty-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to compress a patient'ssoft palate.

In accordance with a twenty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes a body having adistal end, a proximal end and a functional length located proximal tothe distal end, the functional length including a first length and asecond length, a plurality of first barbs located within the firstlength proximal to the distal end, the plurality of first barbs pointedtowards the proximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbslocated within the second length between the plurality of first barbsand the proximal end, the plurality of second barbs pointed towards thedistal end of the body, wherein the first length only includes barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body and the second length onlyincludes barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

In accordance with a twenty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes a needle attachmentmember located at the distal end of the body.

In accordance with a twenty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes a distalloop.

In accordance with a twenty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of first barbs includes a distalanchor.

In accordance with a twenty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of second barbs includes a proximalanchor.

In accordance with a twenty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of first barbs includes a treblehook anchor.

In accordance with a thirtieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first length is longer than the secondlength.

In accordance with a thirty-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the second length is longer than the firstlength.

In accordance with a thirty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to reduce the length ofa patient's soft palate.

In accordance with a thirty-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to compress a patient'ssoft palate.

In accordance with a thirty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes a body having adistal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment member located at thedistal end of the body, and a plurality of barbs located on the lengthof the body proximal to the needle attachment member, wherein the lengthof the body proximal to the needle attachment member only includes barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body.

In accordance with a thirty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes a plurality ofsecond barbs located between the plurality of barbs and the proximalend, wherein the plurality of second barbs are pointed towards thedistal end of the body.

In accordance with a thirty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes a distalloop.

In accordance with a thirty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes aprotuberance.

In accordance with a thirty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member is located a tip ofthe distal end.

In accordance with a thirty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a method of lifting and stiffening a patient'stissue includes attaching a needle attachment member of a suspensionimplant to a tip of a needle, the needle attachment member located at adistal end of the suspension implant, inserting at least the tip of theneedle into the patient's tissue in a first direction while thepatient's tissue is in an initial position, removing the needle from thepatient's tissue, pulling the suspension implant in a second directionso that a plurality of first barbs of the suspension implant pointedtowards a proximal end of the suspension implant pull the patient'stissue in the second direction, and releasing the suspension implant sothat a plurality of second barbs of the suspension implant pointedtowards the distal end of the suspension implant prevent the patient'stissue from returning to the initial position.

In accordance with a fortieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, attaching the needle attachment member of thesuspension implant to the tip of the needle includes attaching a distalloop of the suspension implant to the tip of the needle.

In accordance with a forty-first aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the second direction is opposite the firstdirection.

In accordance with a forty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the second direction is angled with respect tothe first direction.

In accordance with a forty-third aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the method includes inserting a functional lengthof the suspension implant into the patient's soft palate.

In accordance with a forty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the method includes cutting the suspensionimplant before releasing the suspension implant.

In accordance with a forty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the method includes reducing the length of thepatient's soft palate.

In accordance with a forty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the method includes compressing a patient's softpalate.

In accordance with a forty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a kit for lifting and stiffening a patient'stissue includes a container including a first implant including a firstbody having a first distal end and a first proximal end, a first needleattachment member located at the first distal end, a first plurality offirst barbs located on the first body proximal to the first distal endand pointed towards the first proximal end, and a first plurality ofsecond barbs located on the first body between the first plurality offirst barbs and the first proximal end and pointed towards the firstdistal end, and a second implant including a second body having a seconddistal end and a second proximal end, a second needle attachment memberlocated at the second distal end, a second plurality of first barbslocated on the second body proximal to the second distal end and pointedtowards the second proximal end, and a second plurality of second barbslocated on the second body between the second plurality of first barbsand the second proximal end and pointed towards the second distal end,wherein the first implant and the second implant differ in at least oneof: (i) the size of the first plurality of first barbs and the firstplurality of second barbs; (ii) the size of the second plurality offirst barbs and the second plurality of second barbs; (iii) the lengthalong the first body of the first plurality of first barbs and thelength along the second body of the second plurality of first barbs;(iv) the length along the first body of the first plurality of secondbarbs and the length along the second body of the second plurality ofsecond barbs; (v) the presence or absence of a distal anchor; (vi) thepresence or absence of a proximal anchor; (vii) the presence or absenceof a treble hook anchor; (viii) the curvature of the first plurality offirst barbs and the first plurality of second barbs; and (ix) thecurvature of the second plurality of first barbs and the secondplurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a forty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the size of the first plurality of first barbs and the firstplurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a forty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the size of the second plurality of first barbs and the secondplurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a fiftieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the length along the first body of the first plurality of first barbsand the length along the second body of the second plurality of firstbarbs.

In accordance with a fifty-first aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the length along the first body of the first plurality of secondbarbs and the length along the second body of the second plurality ofsecond barbs.

In accordance with a fifty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the presence or absence of a distal anchor.

In accordance with a fifty-third aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the presence or absence of a proximal anchor.

In accordance with a fifty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the presence or absence of a treble hook anchor.

In accordance with a fifty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the curvature of the first plurality of first barbs and the firstplurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a fifty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the first implant and the second implant differin the curvature of the second plurality of first barbs and the secondplurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a fifty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes a body having adistal end and a proximal end, the distal end including a needleattachment member configured to be inserted into a patient's soft tissuein a first direction, means for pulling the patient's tissue in a seconddirection with a plurality of first barbs pointed towards the proximalend, and means for preventing the patient's tissue from returning to aninitial position using a plurality of second barbs pointed towards thedistal end.

In accordance with a fifty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes an elongated bodyhaving a distal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, a proximal loop located at theproximal end of the body, a plurality of first barbs located on the bodyproximal to the distal end, the plurality of first barbs pointed towardsthe proximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbs located onthe body proximal to the proximal end, the plurality of second barbspointed towards the distal end of the body.

In accordance with a fifty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes a distalloop.

In accordance with a sixtieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the distal loop includes an aperturetherethrough.

In accordance with a sixty-first aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes aprotuberance.

In accordance with a sixty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member is located a tip ofthe distal end.

In accordance with a sixty-third aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes a pointed tiplocated at the distal end of the body.

In accordance with a sixty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body is formed of a biodegradablethermoplastic aliphatic polyester.

In accordance with a sixty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body is formed of polyglactic acid,polycaprolactone or any copolymer including polycaprolactone, polylacticAcid (PLA), or polyglycolic Acid (PGA).

In accordance with a sixty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of first barbs includes a set oftop barbs and a set of bottom barbs.

In accordance with a sixty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body includes a top surface, a bottom surfaceand two side surfaces, and wherein the set of top barbs and the set ofbottom barbs protrude only from the two side surfaces.

In accordance with a sixty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the top barbs and the bottom barbs alternatealong at least one of the two side surfaces.

In accordance with a sixty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the top barbs share the top surface of the bodyand the bottom barbs share the bottom surface of the body.

In accordance with a seventieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the top barbs extend from the top surface of thebody and are flush along the top surface of the body, and the bottombarbs extend from the bottom surface of the body and are flush along thebottom surface of the body.

In accordance with a seventy-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the top barbs include a bottom face that isangled away from the bottom surface, and the bottom barbs include a topface that is angled away from the top surface of the body.

In accordance with a seventy-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a portion of the body that includes the pluralityof second barbs has a shorter height than a portion of the body thatincludes the plurality of first barbs.

In accordance with a seventy-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of second barbs are flexible so asnot to resist insertion into a patient's tissue.

In accordance with a seventy-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a portion of the body that includes the pluralityof second barbs has a wider width than a portion of the body thatincludes the plurality of first barbs.

In accordance with a seventy-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body includes a barbless portion between aportion of the body that includes the plurality of second barbs and aportion of the body that includes the plurality of first barbs.

In accordance with a seventy-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the plurality of first barbsincludes only barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body; and(ii) the plurality of second barbs includes only barbs pointed towardsthe distal end of the body.

In accordance with a seventy-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the length along the body ofthe plurality of first barbs is longer than the length along the body ofthe plurality of second barbs; (ii) the length along the body of theplurality of first barbs is shorter than the length along the body ofthe plurality of second barbs; (iii) the first barbs are longer than thesecond barbs; and (iv) the second barbs are longer than the first barbs.

In accordance with a seventy-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the plurality of first barbsincludes barbs of different sizes; and (ii) the plurality of secondbarbs includes barbs of different sizes.

In accordance with a seventy-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes at least one of adistal anchor, a proximal anchor and a treble hook anchor.

In accordance with a eightieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the indentation is positioned at an apex of theconvex side of the curved body.

In accordance with a eighty-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of second barbs includes a firstplurality of barbs on a first side of the surgical implant, and a secondplurality of barbs on a second side of the implant, and wherein thefirst plurality of barbs and the second plurality of barbs areconfigured to fold towards each other for insertion into a patient.

In accordance with a eighty-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a portion including the plurality of second barbsdecreases in overall width when the first plurality of barbs and thesecond plurality of barbs fold towards each other.

In accordance with a eighty-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant lifts and stiffens apatient's tissue.

In accordance with a eighty-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to be inserted into apatient's tissue.

In accordance with a eighty-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body includes a first side surface and anopposite second side surface, and wherein the plurality of second barbsprotrude from only the second side surface.

In accordance with a eighty-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to reduce the length ofa patient's soft palate.

In accordance with a eighty-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the implant is configured to compress a patient'ssoft palate.

In accordance with a eighty-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes an elongated bodyhaving a distal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, a proximal loop located at theproximal end of the body, and a plurality of barbs located on the bodybetween the distal loop and the proximal loop.

In accordance with a eighty-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes a distalloop.

In accordance with a ninetieth aspect of the present disclosure, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes aprotuberance.

In accordance with a ninety-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the plurality of barbs includes: (i) a pluralityof first barbs located on the body proximal to the distal end, theplurality of first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body;and (ii) a plurality of second barbs located on the body proximal to theproximal end, the plurality of second barbs pointed towards the distalend of the body.

In accordance with a ninety-second aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the plurality of first barbsincludes only barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body; and(ii) the plurality of second barbs includes only barbs pointed towardsthe distal end of the body.

In accordance with a ninety-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, at least one of: (i) the length along the body ofthe plurality of first barbs is longer than the length along the body ofthe plurality of second barbs; (ii) the length along the body of theplurality of first barbs is shorter than the length along the body ofthe plurality of second barbs; (iii) the first barbs are longer than thesecond barbs; and (iv) the second barbs are longer than the first barbs.

In accordance with a ninety-fourth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the body includes a barbless portion between aportion of the body that includes the plurality of second barbs and aportion of the body that includes the plurality of first barbs.

In accordance with a ninety-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a device for inserting a surgical implant into apatient's soft tissue includes a curved body including an insertion tipconfigured to pierce the patient's soft tissue, the curved body having aconvex side and an opposing concave side, an elongated indentationlocated on the convex side of the curved body, and an implant receivingmember located between the insertion tip and the elongated indentationon the convex side of the curved body.

In accordance with a ninety-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the device includes the surgical implant, thesurgical implant including an implant body having a distal loop, whereinthe implant receiving member includes an aperture configured to receivethe distal loop, and wherein the indentation is configured to receivethe implant body.

In accordance with a ninety-seventh aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the device includes the surgical implant, thesurgical implant including an implant body having a protuberance,wherein the implant receiving member includes an aperture configured toreceive the protuberance, and wherein the indentation is configured toreceive the implant body.

In accordance with a ninety-eighth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the device includes the surgical implant, thesurgical implant including an implant body having a distal loop, whereinthe implant receiving member includes protuberance configured to attachto the distal loop, and wherein the indentation is configured to receivethe implant body.

In accordance with a ninety-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes a plurality ofbarbs protruding from the implant body along a length of the implantbody, and wherein the indentation is configured to receive the length ofthe plurality of barbs.

In accordance with a one-hundredth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, a length of the indentation along the curved bodyis longer than the length of the implant body from which the pluralityof barbs protrude.

In accordance with a one-hundred-first aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the indentation is positioned at an apex of theconvex side of the curved body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-second aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the indentation is positioned at asmallest radius of curvature of the curved body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-third aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the indentation is sunken into the surface of theconvex side of the curved body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-fourth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a system for lifting andstiffening a patient's tissue includes a surgical implant including anelongated body with a plurality of barbs and a distal end including aneedle attachment member, and a device for inserting the surgicalimplant into the patient's tissue, the device including a curved bodyhaving a sharp tip, a receiving member located proximal to the sharp tipand configured to receive the needle attachment member of the surgicalimplant, and an indentation configured to receive the plurality ofbarbs.

In accordance with a one-hundred-fifth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes a distalloop, and the receiving member includes an aperture or a protuberanceconfigured to receive the distal loop.

In accordance with a one-hundred-sixth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the needle attachment member includes aprotuberance, and the receiving member includes an aperture configuredto receive the protuberance or a second protuberance configured to matewith the protuberance.

In accordance with a one-hundred-seventh aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the system includes at least onethread, and wherein the surgical implant includes a proximal looplocated at a proximal end of the elongated body, the proximal loopconfigured to accept the thread.

In accordance with a one-hundred-eighth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the plurality of barbs includes:(i) a plurality of first barbs located on the elongated body proximal tothe distal end, the plurality of first barbs pointed towards theproximal end of the elongated body; and (ii) a plurality of second barbslocated on the elongated body proximal to the proximal end, theplurality of second barbs pointed towards the distal end of theelongated body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-ninth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the surgical implant includes means forpreventing the patient's tissue from returning to an initial positionusing a plurality of second barbs pointed towards the distal end of thebody.

In accordance with a one-hundred-tenth aspect of the present disclosure,which may be used in combination with any other aspect or combination ofaspects listed herein, the indentation is configured to receive aportion of the elongated body including the plurality of second barbs.

In accordance with a one-hundred-eleventh aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a length of the indentation alongthe curved body is longer than the length of the elongated body fromwhich the plurality of barbs protrude.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twelfth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the indentation is sunken into aconvex side of the curved body of the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the indentation is positioned atan apex of the convex side of the curved body of the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-fourteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the indentation is positioned at asmallest radius of curvature of the curved body of the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-fifteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the system includes an insertiondevice configured to compress the plurality of barbs and guide theplurality of barbs into the indentation.

In accordance with a one-hundred-sixteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the system includes an insertiondevice configured to create a funnel shape to guide the plurality ofbarbs into the indentation.

In accordance with a one-hundred-seventeenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a method of lifting and stiffeninga patient's tissue includes attaching a needle attachment member of asuspension implant to a tip of a needle, the needle attachment memberlocated at a distal end of the suspension implant, securing a proximalloop of the suspension implant, the proximal loop located at a proximalend of the suspension implant, inserting at least the tip of the needleinto the patient's tissue in a first direction while the patient'stissue is in an initial position, removing the needle from the patient'stissue, pulling the suspension implant in a second direction so that aplurality of first barbs of the suspension implant pointed towards theproximal end of the suspension implant pull the patient's tissue in thesecond direction, and releasing the proximal loop of the suspensionimplant so that a plurality of second barbs of the suspension implantpointed towards the distal end of the suspension implant prevent thepatient's tissue from returning to the initial position.

In accordance with a one-hundred-eighteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, attaching the needle attachmentmember of the suspension implant to the tip of the needle includesattaching a distal loop of the suspension implant to the tip of theneedle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-nineteenth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the second direction is oppositethe first direction.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twentieth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the second direction is angledwith respect to the first direction.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-first aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, securing the proximal loop of thesuspension implant includes attaching a thread to the proximal loop.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-second aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the thread is a barbless suture.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-third aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, pulling the suspension implant ina second direction includes pulling the thread in the second direction.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-fourth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, releasing the proximal loop of thesuspension implant includes cutting the thread.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-fifth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, securing the proximal loop of thesuspension implant includes attaching the proximal loop to the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-sixth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, attaching the proximal loop to theneedle includes attaching the proximal loop to a protrusion of theneedle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-seventh aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, attaching the proximal loop to theneedle includes attaching the proximal loop to a device including theneedle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-eighth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, securing the proximal loop of thesuspension implant includes pulling the proximal loop away from the tipof the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-twenty-ninth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, securing the proximal loop of thesuspension implant includes securing the proximal loop with a deviceincluding the needle.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirtieth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the method includes reducing thelength of the patient's soft palate.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-first aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the method includes compressing apatient's soft palate.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-second aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes a bodyhaving a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including aneedle attachment member and the proximal end including a proximal loop,means for attaching the needle attachment member proximate to a tip of aneedle, and means for pulling the proximal loop away from the tip of theneedle to prepare the surgical implant for implantation into a patient'stissue.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-third aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the surgical implant includesmeans for lifting the patient's tissue from an initial position with aplurality of first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-fourth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, the surgical implant includesmeans for preventing the patient's tissue from returning to an initialposition using a plurality of second barbs pointed towards the distalend of the body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-fifth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes a bodyhaving a distal end and a proximal end, a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, one or more first barbs locatedon the body proximal to the distal end, the one or more first barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body, and one or more secondbarbs located on the body between the one or more first barbs and theproximal end, the one or more second barbs pointed towards the distalend of the body.

In accordance with a one-hundred-thirty-sixth aspect of the presentdisclosure, which may be used in combination with any other aspect orcombination of aspects listed herein, a surgical implant includes anelongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, a needleattachment member located at the distal end of the body, a proximal looplocated at the proximal end of the body, one or more first barbs locatedon the body proximal to the distal end, the one or more first barbspointed towards the proximal end of the body, and one or more secondbarbs located on the body proximal to the proximal end, the one or moresecond barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A surgical implant comprising: abody extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having afirst section proximal to the distal end and a second section betweenthe first section and the proximal end; a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment memberincluding a distal loop, the needle attachment member configured toattach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implant into apatient's tissue; a plurality of first barbs located on the firstsection of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end ofthe body; and a plurality of second barbs located on the second sectionof the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of thebody, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly forinsertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue by theneedle.
 2. The surgical implant of claim 1, which is configured to liftand stiffen the patient's tissue when inserted into the patient'stissue.
 3. The surgical implant of claim 1, wherein the second sectionof the body is recessed in comparison to the first section to permit theplurality of second barbs to be folded inwardly.
 4. The surgical implantof claim 1, wherein the body includes at least a first side and a secondside opposite the first side, the plurality of second barbs protrudingfrom both the first and second sides and configured to fold inwardlytowards each other to permit insertion into the patient's tissue.
 5. Thesurgical implant of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least a firstside and a second side opposite the first side, the plurality of secondbarbs protruding from both the first and second sides and configured tofold inwardly so that the second barbs on opposing sides are touching.6. A system for lifting and stiffening a patient's tissue, the systemcomprising: a surgical implant further comprising an implant bodyextending from a distal end to a proximal end, the implant body having afirst section proximal to the distal end and a second section betweenthe first section and the proximal end, a distal loop located at thedistal end of the implant body, a plurality of first barbs located onthe first section of the implant body, the first barbs pointed towardsthe proximal end of the implant body, and a plurality of second barbslocated on the second section of the implant body, the second barbspointed towards the distal end of the implant body; and an insertiondevice configured to insert the surgical implant into the patient'stissue, the insertion device further comprising a needle extending to atip, a receiving member located proximal to the tip and configured toreceive the distal loop of the surgical implant during insertion of thesurgical implant into the patient's tissue, and an indentation extendingalong at least a portion of the needle, the indentation configured toalign with the plurality of second barbs when the distal loop isreceived by the receiving member during insertion of the surgicalimplant into the patient's tissue.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein thereceiving member further comprises an aperture configured to receive thedistal loop.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of secondbarbs are configured to be folded inwardly when aligned with theindentation.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the implant body furthercomprises at least a first side and a second side opposite the firstside, the plurality of second barbs protruding from both the first andsecond sides and configured to fold inwardly towards each other forinsertion into the patient's tissue.
 10. The system of claim 6, whereinthe implant body further comprises at least a first side and a secondside opposite the first side, and wherein the second section furthercomprises the second barbs protruding from the first side of the bodyand is barbless on the second side of the body.
 11. The system of claim6, wherein the needle includes a curved portion, and wherein theindentation is located on the curved portion.
 12. A method of liftingand stiffening a patient's tissue with a surgical implant, the surgicalimplant including an implant body extending from a distal end to aproximal end, the implant body having a first section proximal to thedistal end and a second section between the first section and theproximal end, a distal loop located at the distal end of the implantbody, a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of theimplant body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of theimplant body, and a plurality of second barbs located on the secondsection of the implant body, the second barbs pointed towards the distalend of the implant body, the method comprising: attaching the distalloop proximal to a tip of a needle; aligning the second section of theimplant body with an indentation in the needle so that the second barbsare pointed inwardly toward the needle; inserting at least the tip ofthe needle into the patient's tissue in a first direction while thepatient's tissue is in an initial position; removing the needle from thepatient's tissue; pulling the surgical implant in a second direction sothat the plurality of first barbs of the surgical implant pull thepatient's tissue in the second direction; and releasing the surgicalimplant so that the plurality of second barbs of the surgical implantprevent the patient's tissue from returning to the initial position. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein aligning the second section includesfolding the plurality of second barbs towards each other so that thesecond barbs are pointed inwardly toward the needle.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein aligning the second section includes twisting theimplant body so that the second barbs are pointed inwardly toward theneedle.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein aligning the second sectionincludes pulling the proximal end of the implant body away from thedistal end.
 16. The method of claim 13, which includes securing a threadto a proximal loop located at the proximal end of the implant body whenaligning the second section of the implant body with the indentation inthe needle.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein releasing the surgicalimplant includes releasing the thread from the proximal loop of theimplant body.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the thread includes abarbless suture.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the needle extendsfrom a suture insertion device.
 20. A surgical implant comprising: abody extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having afirst section proximal to the distal end and a second section betweenthe first section and the proximal end; a needle attachment memberlocated at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment memberconfigured to attach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implantinto a patient's tissue; a plurality of first barbs located on the firstsection of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end ofthe body; and a plurality of second barbs located on the second sectionof the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of thebody, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly forinsertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue by theneedle, wherein the second section of the body is recessed in comparisonto the first section to permit the plurality of second barbs to befolded inwardly.